The explorer

陜西 呂 品

題材人物 記敘文體裁 文章詞數(shù) 建議用時333 6分鐘

難詞探意

1.spark /spɑ?k/ v.觸發(fā)；引發(fā)

2.shaft /?ɑ?ft/ n.豎井

3.install /?n'st??l/ v.安裝

4.sediment /'sed?m?nt/ n.沉淀物；沉積物

5.drift /dr?ft/ v.漂移

What is underneath our feet can often attract us as much as that which is in plain sight.This was certainly the case as a love of adventure led a former news reporter to follow a career of exploring and studying of caves.

Zhou Yuanjie has explored more than 40 caves,recording these expeditions through pictures and videos, which light the extraordinary beauty hidden underground.His passion for the fascinating world of caves was sparked when, in 2012, as a journalist of a local newspaper, he covered a team on a search and rescue mission to find someone who had accidentally fallen down a naturally-formed rock shaft in neighboring Yunnan Province.During the rescue process, he fell in love with cave exploration.

He learned some necessary skills before he joined professional cave exploration teams.But it took him time to find his feet.“First, you need to learn not to be a burden on the team, as well as how to install equipment and where to go in the unknown area of a cave.Safety is the most important,and every team member has to receive strict and careful training and learn to deal with the extreme environment and accidents that might occur at any time,” Zhou says.He also picked up knowledge about caves, from rock formations to the changeable underground conditions.Moreover, cave explorers also have to protect the cave they enter.No food and batteries can be left behind.Take nothing but memories.“It takes a long time for cavesedimentsto form, and I would rather give up a photo if taking it would undermine the existing cave structure,” Zhou says.

People like Zhou have helped offer scientific institutes locations and other clues about caves.Their cave explorations have helped raise the awareness of people about the need to protect the environment.For example, they remove trash they find during expeditions, such as plastic bags or bottles that may havedriftedthere from neighboring waterways and stayed in the cave.

Reading Check

1.What made Zhou fall in love with cave exploration?

A.His family background.B.His rescue experience.

C.His love of geography.D.His preference for taking photos.

2.What can we know about cave explorers from the text?

A.They should be good at reporting news.

B.They are forbidden to take food into caves.

C.They should learn something to lay down the burden.

D.They have to be trained strictly before their cave explorations.

3.What's the meaning of the underlined word “undermine” in paragraph 3?

A.Lessen.B.Dig.C.Harm.D.Observe.

4.What does the last paragraph mainly focus on?

A.The significance of cave explorers' work.

B.Other scientific studies about caves.

C.The importance of protecting the environment.

D.The disadvantages of using plastic products.

Language Study

熟詞生義

His passion for the fascinating world of caves was sparked when, in 2012, as a journalist of a local newspaper, hecovereda team on a search and rescue mission to find someone who had accidentally fallen down a naturally-formed rock shaft in neighboring Yunnan Province.2012年，作為一名當(dāng)?shù)貓?bào)社的記者，他報(bào)道了一支執(zhí)行搜救任務(wù)的隊(duì)伍，他們要找到一個意外墜落在鄰近的云南省一個自然形成的巖井里的人，這激發(fā)了他對洞穴這個迷人世界的熱情。

cover v.報(bào)道

e.g.The TV program will cover all the major games of the tournament.這檔電視節(jié)目將報(bào)道這次錦標(biāo)賽的所有重要賽事。